With the value of the online and remote gambling likely to exceed $182.8 billion by the end of 2015, you could be forgiven for thinking that traditional entertainment platforms are increasingly moribund. From standard television shows to board games and outdoor activities, offline outlets are struggling to complete with the lure of the virtual world and the authentic gaming experiences that it can deliver to players.

If you are able to open your mind and study the details of unfamiliar cultures, however, you are likely to find a number of unique and thrilling offline games that can provide genuine entertainment for players of all ages. With this in mind, let’s take a look at the recently published fulltilt.com map of bar games and check out some of the most unusual entries on the list:

Scopa, originating from Italy

When it comes to offline family entertainment, simplicity is often the key watchword. In this respect, the Italian card game Scopa offers a prime example, as its simplistic format and gameplay has enabled it to become a cult favourite throughout Western Europe. To play, each participant is dealt three cards before four are placed in the middle of the table face-up. Players then take it in turns to place a single card in the middle alongside those that are already face-up, collecting those that secure a match. Scopa (which translates into broom or sweep in English) is achieved when all the cards from the middle have been collected, while the player who has the most wins.

Halv Tolv, originating from Denmark

While blackjack is commonly considered to be a game where gambling is involved, there are variations which transform it into more family-friendly experience. The UK has a simple variation called Pontoon, for example, where players are simply dealt two card each and must stick (retain their existing hand) or twist (draw another card) in a bid to get as close to 21 as possible without exceeding this number. The game Halv Tolv provides another example, as it is identical to the classic version of blackjack only it is often played in a friendly format rather than for high stakes. The rules of the game also stipulate that all face cards are only worth a half point as opposed to their full numerical value, while players must also hit the 11.5 mark precisely rather than 21.

The Bimini Ring Game, originating from the Caribbean

Moving outside of Europe and Scandinavia, the Caribbean Islands are also a rich source of unique and unusual offline games. Take the exotically titled Bimini Ring Game, for example, which according to folklore was invented by Ernest Hemmingway after he caught a prize tuna of the coast of Bimini Bay during a visit. The game itself is relatively simple, as a rig is attached to a long piece of string that hangs from a ceiling. The string must be long enough to be caught on a wall hook when thrown from a distance, with a gap of twelve feet providing the fairest possible challenge. Each player than gets ten throws per round, with the aim being to either hit the hook (which earns one point) or secure the ring (which is worth five points and referred to as Bimini). Historically, the first player to reach 100 points wins!